Swinging bridge



r (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. SMITH.

SWINGING BRIDGE.

Patent No. 357,638. Feb. 15, 1887..

. WITNESSES I INVENTOR I 4 N yw M z 7757725272 N. PETERS. Phawum m mr. Washington. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

R. W. SMITH.

SWINGING BRIDGE.

No.35'7,638. I P entedPeb. 15,1887.

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SWINGING BRIDGE. No. 357,638. Patented Feb; 15, 1887.

.mvnnqa 180567"! W Swath, torneys By 7113' At ing the pedestal and resting on a ledge, as illus- 'trated.

ROBERT w. sMrrH,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

SW'INGING BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 857,638, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed A.pril1 7, 1 886. I

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. SMITH, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swinging Bridges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in 'which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a turn-table and a section of a swinging bridge extending out from one side of the turn-table. Fig. 2 is a diametrical section of the turn-table. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the bridge shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a-detail View showing one of the turn-table wheels in diametrical section.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, economical, reliable, and durable automatic swinging bridge, which may be opened by any power applied for the purpose and then automatically closed by the force of springs.

Referring to the letters upon the drawings, A indicates a pedestal, made of iron or other suitable material, attached to suitable foundations (not illustrated) by bolts and nuts, or in any usual manner.

B indicates the revolving spider surround- B indicates inclined rods bolted at their inner ends to the spider and at their outer ends to the upper track of the turn-table. These rods and spider hold the turn-table firmly in its centered position upon the pedestal.

0 indicates the inside springs, which immediately surround the upper central circular projection of the pedestal, and consist of double spiral coils of steel rod of sufficient size to furnish the power for automatically closing the bridge after it has been opened by hand or other power. Thelower ends of the springs 0 pass through and are attached to the ring E, and the upper ends pass through and'are attached to the lower lever-arm, K.

D indicates the outside springs, of similar character, the lower ends of which pass through and are attached to the ring F, and their up- Serial No. 109,219. (No model.)

J indicates an outside collar, which holds the upper end of the springs D in true position. The lower lever-arm, K, to which the springs O are attached, is moved by means of the bolt N when the bridge is opening in the direction in which said arm K moves for that purpose, winding up the coils of the springs C. When the bridge is closing, the arm K conveys the power from the spring 0 to the bolt N. The arm K moves when the bridge is opening in the opposite direction,operating the springs D and performing similar duties as the arm K.

L indicates a stop, and is a loose plug inserted in the upper part of the pedestal to hold the arms and bridge in their true position when the bridge is closed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6.

M indicates a center pin, placed in the center of the pedestal through the arms K and K, holding them in their true position and forming their pivot when they are revolving.

The bolt N is attached to the beam of the turn-table, as shown in Fig. 4, and conveys the force from the bridgeto the arms K and K when the bridge is opening and in the opposite direction when it is closing.

0 O are the beams of the turn-table.

P P are the upper and lower tracks of the turn-table. The wheels Q Q, revolve between the upper and lower tracks of the turn-table when the bridge is opening or closing.

R R indicate the trusses of the bridge. S S are bumpers and guards of timber, designed to receive any shock to the bridge on either side caused by a boat or other object colliding with it, and also to guard the bridge against damage when the boat is passing through the opening. The bumpers are connected by beams T T passing under the bridge.

U U indicate iron bands or rings placed on opposite sides of the wheels Q upon the bolt \V, and held by nuts X.

V indicates a sleeve, which may be an iron pipe encircling the bolt \V, forming an axle for the wheel Q, and serving to keep the rings U U in place.

It will be seen that I employ two separate sets of coiled springs secured at their lower ends to a pedestal, and connected by means of cams or arms to the swinging bridge at their upper ends, so that the force of the double springs, respectively, shall bear upon the bridge whenever it is turned either way and tend to bring it into line with the track or roadway. By employing a plurality of coiled springs in each set I am enabled to connect their upper ends upon both sides of the pivotal point upon which the bridge turns, so that the springs do not exert their force all on one side of such point, but exert their force in the same manner that the hands of a workman exert their force on the opposite ends of an auger-handle to turn it. By this means no binding action or waste of force occurs, but there is a balance of forces on either side of the pivot exerted to turn the bridge into the position for closing. This is a material advantage in the construction of an automatic swinging bridge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In combination with a swinging bridge,

a pedestal, A, a turn-table and track for supporting and turning the bridge, the double spiral springs G, and the double spiral springs D, secured at one end of them firmly to thepedcstal and connected at the other end with the bridge by means of cams or arms, substantially as set forth, whereby the double springs will alternately exert their force to close the bridge when turned either way, as described.

2. In a swinging bridge, the combination of the pedestal provided with the springs O and D, the arms K K, the bolt N, and the stop L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a swinging bridge, the combination of the pedestal A, springs G and D, the rings E and F, the collars I and J, the cylinder II, the lever-arms K and K, the stop L, and the bolt N, substantially as set forth.

i. In combination with a swinging bridgesection, the guards or bumpers S, rigidly secured to and projecting from each side of the swinging bridge-section, and the beams connecting and bracing them and passing under the bridge-section, substantially as set forth.

5. The improvements in a turn-table wheel, which consist in the combination, with wheels Q and the bolt \V, of the rings U and the hollow cylindrical axle V, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT \V. SMITH.

Vitncsses:

Masons S. HOPKINS, C. P. ELWELL. 

